# How to use Time Machine and APFS snapshots on macOS [](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PY2gzNrK9Wc "How to use Time Machine and APFS snapshots on macOS") ## Time Machine setup guide ### Step 1: exclude folders from Time Machine > Heads-up: excluded folders vary depending on use case.  ### Step 2: format Time Machine disk as “Mac OS Extended (Journaled, Encrypted)” using “Disk Utility” > WARNING: DATA ON TIME MACHINE DISK WILL BE PERMANENTLY DELETED.  ### Step 3: enable “Encrypt Backup Disk” and click “Use as Backup Disk”  ### Step 4: confirm encryption is enabled and enable “Show Time Machine in menu bar”  Encrypted 👍 ## Time Machine usage guide ### Create backup Click “Time Machine” menu bar icon and then “Back Up Now” or run `tmutil startbackup`. ### Delete specific backup Heads-up: use `tmutil listbackups` to list backups. ```console $ sudo tmutil delete "/Volumes/LaCie/Backups.backupdb/Sun’s MacBook Pro/2021-04-05-161636" Deleting: /Volumes/LaCie/Backups.backupdb/Sun’s MacBook Pro/2021-04-05-161636 Deleted (43.5M): /Volumes/LaCie/Backups.backupdb/Sun’s MacBook Pro/2021-04-05-161636 Total deleted: 43.5M ``` Total deleted: 43.5M 👍 ## APFS snapshot usage guide ### Create local APFS snapshot ```console $ tmutil localsnapshot Created local snapshot with date: 2021-04-05-162425 ``` Created local snapshot with date: 2021-04-05-162425 👍 ### List local APFS snapshots ```console $ tmutil listlocalsnapshots / Snapshots for volume group containing disk /: com.apple.TimeMachine.2021-04-05-162416.local com.apple.TimeMachine.2021-04-05-162425.local ``` ### Mount local read-only APFS snapshot Heads-up: use `umount /tmp/snapshot` to unmount snapshot. Replace `com.apple.TimeMachine.2021-04-05-162416.local` with snapshot from [List local APFS snapshots](#list-local-apfs-snapshots). ```shell mkdir -p /tmp/snapshot mount_apfs -s com.apple.TimeMachine.2021-04-05-162416.local / /tmp/snapshot open /tmp/snapshot ``` ### Restore local APFS snapshot Restart computer and press `cmd+r` to boot to recovery mode. Select “Restore From Time Machine Backup”, then “Macintosh HD”, choose local snapshot, click “Continue” and “Continue” again to confirm. ### Delete specific local APFS snapshot > Heads-up: use `tmutil listlocalsnapshotdates` to list local snapshot dates. ```console $ tmutil deletelocalsnapshots 2021-04-05-162416 Deleted local snapshot '2021-04-05-162416' ``` Deleted local snapshot '2021-04-05-162416' 👍 ### Delete all local APFS snapshot ```console $ tmutil deletelocalsnapshots / Deleted 1 Time Machine local snapshots for volume group containing disk '/' com.apple.TimeMachine.2021-04-05-162425.local ``` Deleted 1 Time Machine local snapshots for volume group containing disk '/' 👍